Dodgers' Guerra plans to use WBC as showcase

The Dodgers' Yasiel Puig hits a three-run home run off Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Fernando Nieve in the seventh inning of a Cactus League game on Sunday in Glendale, Ariz. MARK DUNCAN, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

GLENDALE, Ariz. – The way Javy Guerra figures it – whatever he could prove by getting hitters out in the Cactus League, he can prove even better by getting some of the best hitters in the world out in a more competitive atmosphere.

The Dodgers reliever accepted a spot on the Mexican roster for the World Baseball Classic and will join that team for workouts beginning Monday. For Mexican teammates Adrian Gonzalez and Luis Cruz, Nick Punto (headed to Team Italy), Hanley Ramirez (Dominican Republic) and Ronald Belisario (Venezuela), their roles on the Dodgers this season are already set and a week – or much more – away from camp is no threat to change their standing.

Guerra's situation is different. He had a turbulent season last year that saw him start the season as the Dodgers closer but endure multiple injuries and a midseason demotion to the minors. His place in the bullpen pecking order this spring has yet to be determined with Brandon League in the closer role. Kenley Jansen, J.P. Howell and Belisario all have more secure places in the bullpen than Guerra.

"I wouldn't sacrifice anything to go there," Guerra said. "I wouldn't do anything that would stop me from being 100 percent and ready for the season.

"I think by going to the Classic I can only get better. If I go out there and face the greatest hitters and get them out, it's only going to show that I'm ready. Hopefully, they (the Dodgers) know what I can do, what I bring to the table."

They thought they did last year and made him their closer to start the season on the heels of his 21 saves in 2011. He converted saves in each of his first five appearances last April but his season took a dramatic turn when he was struck in the face by a line drive on April 25.

Physically, he was fine and continued to pitch. But he was less effective and wound up on the DL when he had surgery in June to repair a knee ligament. He was optioned to Triple-A after he returned and pitched just once in September for the Dodgers before an oblique injury shut him down again. Guerra went to the Dodgers' training complex in Arizona with a sore shoulder at the same time and tried to rehab well enough to rejoin the Dodgers if they made the playoffs. When they didn't, he shut it down and eventually had arthroscopic surgery on his shoulder in November.

The Dodgers took it easy on Guerra early in camp, giving him extra days between throwing sessions. But those restrictions are now off. He threw his second scoreless inning of the spring in Sunday's 5-1 victory over the Indians.

But Colletti has collected a handful of veteran relievers (Matt Guerrier, Kevin Gregg, Peter Moylan and Mark Lowe) to compete for a spot in a Dodgers bullpen that has little available space if they opt to stash one of their eight starting pitchers there to open the season.

"I can't say he's got a guaranteed spot. He's not one of those guys," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said of Guerra. "But he's thrown the ball well. He's shown he can get big-league guys out, for sure. ... We do have some history. This guy has had some success. He's gotten people out. He's been our closer. He saved, what, 20-something games for us and was pretty good. We started the season last year thinking this guy was our closer so he's got pretty good stuff.

"He's got enough weapons to get guys out, kind of left or right. He's really a valuable guy because of that and he can go multiple innings. He's been pretty durable."

KEMP PROGRESS

Outfielder Matt Kemp made his second start of the spring at DH Sunday. He went hitless in three at-bats but drove a ball to deep right-center field in his second at-bat. Indians center fielder Michael Bourn ran it down.

"My timing is still a little weird," Kemp said. "Every at-bat is a step forward. I just want to get my legs under me, get my timing down."

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